Duncan McCormack

Q: "Who is Duncan McCormack?"

"Duncan McCormack is a Detective Inspector in the Glasgow police, created by Liam McIlvanney. He is a Highlander and an outsider, brought in to investigate cases the local force cannot solve."

Q: "What order should I read the Duncan McCormack books?"

"Read in publication order: The Quaker (2018) followed by The Heretic (2022)."

Q: "Has the Duncan McCormack series won any awards?"

"Yes, The Quaker (2018) won the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. The prize is named after Liam's father, William McIlvanney, who is considered the founder of Scottish crime fiction."

DI Duncan McCormack is the central character of Liam McIlvanney’s crime fiction series set in 1960s Glasgow. McCormack is a Highlander and an outsider in the Glasgow police, a man with secrets who is brought in to investigate cases the local force cannot crack.

In The Quaker (2018), McCormack hunts a serial killer targeting women in Glasgow’s West End. The Heretic (2022) takes him into Glasgow’s criminal underworld and its sectarian tensions. The series has drawn comparisons to William McIlvanney’s Laidlaw novels for its vivid portrayal of Glasgow and its morally complex detective.

Reading Order

See the complete Duncan McCormack reading order for all books in the series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Duncan McCormack?

Duncan McCormack is a Detective Inspector in the Glasgow police, created by Liam McIlvanney. He is a Highlander and an outsider, brought in to investigate cases the local force cannot solve.

What order should I read the Duncan McCormack books?

Read in publication order: The Quaker (2018) followed by The Heretic (2022).

Has the Duncan McCormack series won any awards?

Yes, The Quaker (2018) won the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. The prize is named after Liam’s father, William McIlvanney, who is considered the founder of Scottish crime fiction.

Reading Order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading Order